title: Operating in a yellow nation; the frequency of hepatitis B and hepatitis C positive at a tertiary care teaching hospital.
abstract: Objects contaminated with blood and other body fluids of patients suffering from hepatitis B and C are an occupational health hazard to the health care personnel and a source of nosocomial spread. This descriptive cross sectional study estimated the frequency of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti hepatitis C antibody (Anti HCV) positive patients among those undergoing a urological procedure in a tertiary care teaching hospital. A sample size of 550 patients was estimated using Stat Calc for Epi Info. A cluster off 558 patients were included. Ninety five (17%) were positive for serum HBsAg and/or anti HCV by Elisa. Gender/sex, admission year, urological diagnosis did not predict statistically significant relationship with the positive status. Past surgical history was marginally significant. In conclusion, all patients undergoing a urological procedure should be checked for anti HCV and HBsAg. A solid policy outlining the preventive practices is needed to stop this high burden of hepatitis turning into public health disaster.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology & Kidney Transplant, Fatima Jinnah Medical College/Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waheed
authors.lastname: Zafar-ul-Ahsan
authors.forename: Faisal Ahmed
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Zaeem
authors.forename: Mian Muhammad
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Shariff
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qayyum
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies